Hydrangea hybrid plant named ‘Sweet Chris’

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of  Hydrangea  hybrid characterized by dark green foliage, burgundy fall foliage, lacecap flower color and burgundy stem color.

Classification: Hydrangea (Thunb.) (macrophylla×serrata)×Hydrangea(serrata×macrophylla).

Varietal denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘Sweet Chris’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Hydrangeahybrid which was developed in a controlled breeding program in SilverSpring, Md., United States, by Mr. Joseph Gray. The varietaldenomination of the new variety is ‘Sweet Chris’.

The genus Hydrangea is included in the family Saxifragaceae whichcomprises about 80 genera and 1,200 species of herbs, shrubs, smalltrees and woody climbers mostly temperate in origin. Hydrangea comprisesapproximately 23 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and vinesoriginating in North America, South America and East Asia, many of whichpossess desirable ornamental characteristics. Recent taxonomicaltreatments sometimes isolate Hydrangea in a new family, Hydrangeaceae.

Hydrangea macrophylla is widespread and common throughout much of Japan.It generally has opposite, simple leaves, obovate to elliptic in shape,10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 15 cm wide. Leaf color ranges from light todark green, depending on light intensity and cultural conditions. Leavesare generally softly pubescent. Flower color is dependent upon the pHlevel of the soil and the amount of available aluminum in the soilmedia. Flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla are borne in mostly sterileflorets, formed in what is often called a “hortensia” flower.

Hydrangea serrata is widespread and common throughout much of Japan,Korea and China. It generally has opposite, simple leaves, lanceolate inshape with acuminate apices, 5 to 15 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide. Leafcolor ranges from light to dark green, depending on light intensity andcultural conditions. Leaves are generally softly pubescent. The plant isdeciduous. Flower color is dependent upon the pH level of the soil andthe amount of available aluminum in the soil media. Flowers of Hydrangeaserrata are borne in mostly flattened corymbs, 1 to 5 cm wide, with upto 12 sterile florets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety was developed in a controlled breeding program ofHydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea serrata, and differs from itsparents in its dark green summer foliage, burgundy fall foliage, lacecap flower color, and burgundy stem color. Asexual reproduction of thenew variety by stem cuttings, performed in Silver Springs, Md. andVacaville, Calif., have confirmed that the distinctive characteristicsof the new variety are stable and transmitted to succeeding generations,and the new variety reproduces true to type.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘Sweet Chris’ is distinguished from its parents and all other varietiesof Hydrangea of which I am aware by dark green summer foliage, burgundyfall foliage, lacecap flower color, and burgundy stem color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying illustration shows a specimen of the new cultivar in aphoto illustration as true to color as is reasonably possible to make inan illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 illustrates the inflorescence and overall habit of ‘Sweet Chris’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

‘Sweet Chris’ has not been observed under all possible environmental,cultural and light conditions. The following observations anddescriptions are of plants grown in Vacaville, Calif. In thisdescription, color references are to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (1995) and terminology used in the color descriptionsherein refers to plate numbers in this color chart. Phenotypicexpression may vary with light intensity, cultural and environmentalconditions.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Hydrangea (Thunb.) Hydrangea (Thunb.)(macrophylla×serrata)×Hydrangea (serrata×macrophylla) ‘Sweet Chris’.

Parentage:

Mother plant.—Hydrangea (macrophylla×serrata) ‘Lanarth White’(unpatented).

Father plant.—Hydrangea (serrata×macrophylla) ‘Preziosa’ (unpatented).

Propagation: By vegetative cuttings.

The following plant descriptors and color readings are of typical 3-yearold specimens in 5-gallon nursery containers grown in Vacaville, Calif.under 50% shade, in a 6.6 pH soiless nursery growing media.

PLANT

Size: Approximately 1 m tall and 90 cm wide.

Habit: Upright, compact shrub.

Branching:

Lateral branches.—Approximately 30.

Typical # branches.—About 30.

Size.—Usually up to about 90 cm long.

Diameter.—About 7 mm.

Lenticles.—Near Red-Purple Group 59C.

Branch color.—June-September: Near Red Purple Group 59C. April-May;October-November: Near Green Group 138C.

LEAF

Shape: Ovate to broadly ovate, with a cuneate base and acute toacuminate apex.

Size: Usually up to about 130 mm long and 80 mm wide.

Arrangement: Opposite.

Margin: Serrate.

Texture/substance: Firm to coriaceous glabrous to nearly dull above,glabrous beneath, veins depressed above and raised beneath.

Color:

Young foliage.—Top and Bottom near Yellow-Green Group 149A.

Mature foliage.—Upper side: Near Yellow-Green Group 146B. Under side:Near Yellow-Green Group 144B.

Venation:

Pattern.—Alternately pinnate, sunken above, raised beneath.

Coloration.—New Foliage: Upper Surface: Near Green Group 138B. UnderSurface: Near Green Group 138B. Mature Foliage: Upper Surface: NearGreen Group 139A. Under Surface: Near Green Group 139A.

Fall foliage: Upper Surface: Near Greyed-Purple Group 187A.

Petioles:

Size.—About 2.5 to 3 cm long.

Coloration.—Upper Surface: Near Red Group 59C. Under Surface: Near GreenGroup 138D.

Texture.—Smooth.

Internodes: About 25 mm.

Hardiness: USDA Zone 6 (−10° F. to 0° F.).

Vigor: Vigorous growth.

Pests/diseases: Resistance to known Hydrangea pests and/or diseases hasnot been observed on plants grown under conditions approximatingcommercial practices.

Soil pH: 6.6 pH in a soiless nursery growing media.

INFLORESENCE

Bloom period:

Outdoors.—April to September.

Flower form: Paniculate, compound corymb inflorescence; both sterile(about 65), sepalous florets and fertile (about 10), asepalous floretsborne on same panicle.

Flower arrangement: Loose tiered corymb about 15 to 18 cm across.

Size of inflorescence: About 18 cm.

Shape of inflorescence: Hemispherical.

Fragrance: None.

Lastingness of individual blooms: Flowers are very persistent, lastingup to 5 months. As the flowers mature, the pedicels bearing the outerflorets bend to invert the florets toward the ground.

Sepalous florets:

Sepals.—Number: Usually 4 sepals per floret, occasionally 3. Shape:Broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Size: Variable; typical sepalmeasures about 20 mm by 25 mm. Margin: Dentate to crenate on the upperhalf of sepal. Curvature: Reflexed. Arrangement: Overlapping at base tomidpoint. Color Upper Side: Bicolored; centers near Red-Purple Group 58Bin early bloom, maturing to near Red-Purple Group 63A and eventually61B; margins near Violet Group 83B. Lower Side: Bicolored; centers nearRed-Purple Group 58C in early bloom, maturing to near Red-Purple Group63A and eventually 61B; margins near Violet Group 83B. Size of one large4-petaled floret: About 3 cm wide. Aspect of sepals: Smooth. Depth ofTypical Sepalous Floret: Less than about 1 mm.

Pedicels:

Length.—About 2 to 3 cm.

Diameter.—Less than about 1 mm.

Color.—Near Greyed-Orange Group 177D.

Peduncles:

Length.—About 1.8 to 2.2 cm.

Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.

Color.—Near Greyed-Orange Group 177D.

Non-sepalous florets:

Size of floret.—Approximately 2 mm in diameter.

Depth of typical non-sepalous floret.—Less than about 1 mm.

Color of floret.—Near Red-Purple Group 63B.

Pedicels:

Length.—About 5 to 7 mm.

Diameter.—Less than about 1 mm.

Color.—Near Greyed-Orange Group 177D.

Peduncles:

Length.—About 1.8 to 2.2 cm.

Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.

Color.—Near Greyed-Orange Group 177D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: Approximately 8.

Stigma: Usually 4, occasionally 3 or 5.

Pollen amount: Very little, not measurable.

Pollen color: Near White Group 155D.

Fertile inflorescence:

Pistil length.—About 2 mm.

Stigma color.—Near Red-Purple Group 57D.

Style color.—Near Red-Purple Group 57D.

Ovary color.—Near Red-Purple Group 57D.

Stamen filament.—Near Red-Purple Group 57C.

Fruit.—None noted.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hydrangea plant substantiallyas shown and described.